Why You Need an Elliptical Trainer!

Are you thinking about an Elliptical Trainer? Do you have any experience of Elliptical Training? Have you seen them in the Gym and want to do more?

Elliptical trainers are becoming more and more popular for because of two huge things.  They WORK!  And they are great for your JOINTS

The growth in Elliptical sales is now catapulting them to the top sellers list in most stores, there is a huge range of choice and pricing available this guide will take you through what to look for and any pitfall you might want to avoid!

How Much Should I spend on an Elliptical Trainer?

First lets take budget, some of these Elliptical Trainers can be expensive!  What are the features you need and what are those that are nice to have but not really worth the extra cash.

To help you get started we have prepared a short survey to let you see how your intended usage is reflected in the budget. It will ask you 5 simple questions about how long it will be used, weight of users etc and based on your answers will recommend a budget. Don’t worry the survey is completely confidential and no results are saved.

Take this short questionnaire to determine the best elliptical trainer for you:

[WATU 1]

So now you have a base line budget. What are the additional features you should be looking at?

Quality

As you step up in price, this is reflected in the quality of your elliptical. There are a number of variables, such as the power of the motor, the materials used might be better finished, the elliptical may be smoother or quieter.

One big consideration is the weight of the user, a heavy person over 200lb will put too much stress on a budget elliptical, and should really consider higher end models.

The Drive Train

When determining the quality of an elliptical first you should look at the so called ‘drive train’. This is the series of drive axle, bearings, belt, power generation and circuit boards that make up the key components of any elliptical.

Generally as the price of the elliptical goes up so does the quality of all these components. In mid range, and lower end ellipticals there will always be some compromise. With a good reputable brand they will have made the right choices to ensure a quality elliptical for a price you can afford.

This is what you should be looking for:

1 How smooth is the motion?

The best ellipticals feel like you are floating in air. The movement is silky smooth and there are no noises coming from the machine like squeaks, rubbing etc. Also there is not a noticeable difference between the levels of the tension.

2 Where is the drive located?

There are three main positions for the drive. Front, rear and center. Center drive ellipticals tend to have the most issues, however the tradeoff is that they are generally more compact, and can often be easier to find a location for them.

If you have to choose there is little practical difference between front and rear drive versions. It will come down to aesthetics which option you go for.

3 Flywheel Weight.

A big consideration in determining the quality of your elliptical is the weight of the flywheel.

Its the force of you turning this flywheel, against resistance, that gives you your workout. The heavier and more balanced the flywheel the smoother the feel of the elliptical. The heavier the wheel the more inertia it will carry, in simple terms when you start it turning it will want to keep turning for longer. Of course as the weight of the wheel goes up, so does the strength of all the components needed to hold it. This is why heavy fly wheels are found on the more expensive models.

What Programs are Available?

All ellipticals ship with some level of workout programs, never spend money on special programs like a cardio blast!  That said a good one to look for is a memory, where you can build and save your favourite workout.

Heart Rate Monitors.

Higher end models will have heart rate sensors built into the elliptical handles.  On sophisticated models, this is linked to the resistance of the trainer and can be really effective at keeping your heart in the training range or fat burning range.

Storage

If you have limited storage available then a folding elliptical might be useful.  If you are not intending to move it about then we would recommend spending the additional cost on better quality drive train components.